Frost at 40: 2003-Jacks vs. USD

Editor's Note: Throughout the 2012-13 athletics season, Jackrabbit Athletics will spotlight 40 of the top moments in the 40-year history of Frost Arena. This week's segment focuses on the 2003 women's basketball regular season matchup between SDSU and the University of South Dakota.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 86, SOUTH DAKOTA 69Playing before a women's basketball-record crowd of 7,814 fans, the South Dakota State University women's basketball team gained an early lead in the North Central Conference race by defeating the University of South Dakota, 86-69, at Frost Arena on Jan. 16, 2003.

The Jackrabbits remained undefeated, pushing their record to 15-0 overall and 5-0 in the NCC. USD dropped to 13-2 overall, 3-1 in league play.

SDSU set the tone early as Heather Sieler and Stacie Cizek hit three-pointers to open an early 6-2 lead. The Jackrabbits built their advantage to double figures, 22-12, on a three-ball by Brooke Dickmeyer with 11:38 to play in the first half.

After trailing by 13, the Coyotes stormed back with a late run to close the gap to a single point at 39-38 in the final minute of the first half. A Shannon Schlagel free throw with five seconds remaining gave SDSU a 40-38 lead at intermission.

Brenda Davis scored 10 straight Jackrabbit points, highlighted by a pair of three-pointers, in the opening minutes of the second half to again push the margin to double figures.

Once again, USD proved resilient with a 14-5 run that got the Coyotes back to within 70-66 with four minutes to play.

However, Sieler slammed the door shut with back-to-back three-pointers and Davis added another triple as the Jackrabbits set a then-school record with 15 three-pointers (in 33 attempts) to win going away.

Davis finished the game with a team-high 20 points, followed by 18 points from Melissa Pater. Sieler ended the game with 14 points and six assists, while Schlagel posted a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Mandy Koupal led the Coyotes with a game-high 30 points. Julia Frie added 21 points and Heather Nelson scored 13 as the trio combined for 64 of USD's 69 points.

The Jackrabbits held a 45-29 rebounding advantage, including a 17-8 margin on the offensive glass.